The reader can’t muster up the courage to talk to the cute barista until she has a really bad day. Technically, he talks to her first, and just when she needs him the most.
Pairing: Barista!Sami Zayne x Reader (Y/N)
Warnings/Promises: fluff, terrible bosses
Word Count: ~980
Note: I thought I’d try my hand at Sami Zayne. Please let me know how I did with comments, likes, and reblogs! My tag lists are open if you like my work, and so are my requests if there’s a fic/smut-less character out there you would like to read. Please enjoy!

It was a pleasant little coffee shop; the “Espresso Express” was equipped with anything a busy business person could wish for in the morning. It had a small display of pastries, its own roasting machine in the back, and a plethora of espresso machines. The most common delight of patrons was the slightly curved bar that ran most of the length of the shop. The standing bar made service extra quick and fun due to its closeness to the coffee action.
As for you, the main attraction was a certain barista with bright red hair and a smile brighter than the sun.
His deft hands had small cups and plates in front of patrons with a flip. Espresso was measured and served with the timing of a master. And empty cups were left on the counter no longer than ten seconds. At the same time, you had almost seen him tip a tray of drinks with the same hands if he was telling a quick story. They seemed to flip about on their own, making you giggle as one of his fellow baristas ducked to avoid a concussion.
If you were braver, you would talk to him. Unfortunately, you had no such courage. Or luck. You had mustered up the strength to talk to him once with the help of your friends one Friday morning but he had completely missed you. His eyes glanced right over you to the spillage further down the bar and he rushed to it. Instead, you were served by the dark-haired barista; handsome too, but intense and always fawned over by the college women between classes.
It took you another whole month to find that strength again.
“What can I get for you today?”
“A cap… a cappuccino. Please.”
“Coming right up.”
And that was it. You paid by the pastry display to the other barista and left quickly. But at least it was a start, right?
Then disaster struck.
You should have sucked it up and asked your roommate for a ride. Called a taxi. Or put off the presentation for next week. Instead, you left the apartment without checking the weather and carried your presentation notes in a simple non-water-proof manila folder. Between the two blocks between your apartment building and the coffee shop, with two more to your office, you went from enjoying the sunniest day in history to arriving soaked and distraught.
The folder landed with a loud plop on the back corner table. It soon spread its puddle outwards till it was dripping on the floor. Your equally wet scarf did nothing to help the mess. With your head resting on your hands you didn’t notice you had a visitor. Your shoulders tensed as his voice cut through your personal thundercloud.
“What can I get for you today?”
You peaked through your fingers into his bright blue eyes, all the brighter framed in his red curls.
“A puddle to swallow me,” you muttered under your breath.
He chuckled. “If you don’t mind me saying so… it seems the puddle already spit you back out.” He nodded towards your folder. “Is there anything I can do to help with that?
“Not really unless you’ve got a hairdryer in the back.” You let your head sink all the way to the table as he shook his head.
“I don’t think we do. But we do have a fridge that gets hot on top. Do you want to try drying them that way? How much time do you have till your presentation?”
You checked your still-dry phone. (Yay Autobox.) “An hour and a half. If I had waited till my usual time instead of trying to be early I could have known to carry an umbrella.”
“Your boss can’t hold it against you for trying. Let me take those and get you a coffee. Cappuccino, right?” You barely had time to respond before he was off like a shot. He spun in place after a few steps. “Name’s Sami by the way.”
“Y/N.”
Half an hour later your presentation was dry but you hadn’t moved. You giggled as Sami’s hands flew through the air.
“The jazzy version of ‘Moves Like Jagger’ is definitely in my top five oddest songs I’ve heard in the shop.”
“Was it on someone’s phone?”
“No, just on some YouTube playlist one of us found. The rest was fine, just your usual jazz mix we play. This one had slowed down pop and classic rock songs mixed in. Your turn. Top three oddest phone calls to your office?”
You took a breath to tell the story, but it came out in a squeak as your phone buzzed. A tap of your thumb later you cursed under your breath. “Are you kidding me?”
“What?” Sami looked at you. “Did they move up the meeting? I didn’t make you late did I?”
“No, my boss is just…” You held up your phone in front of your face and read, “Hey, Y/N. Sorry I’m telling you late, but we decided last night to move this morning’s presentation to next week. Feel free to take today off, I’ll see you Monday.” Sami frowned as you tsk-ed. “Asshole.”
“Agreed. But do you know what else that means?”
“What?”
“That you can come out to lunch with me. That is… is… if you want to. I thought since we’d already had the coffee then a lunch date would be next. Unless you just want lunch. Doesn’t have to be a date; doesn’t have to be today. There’s a good place I like a few blocks away but I have a gift card and I could give it to you if you want to go by yourself sometime. If you want.” His cheeks had tinted a rosy pink and you held your cup close to you as his hands stopped mid-flight to clasp tightly in his lap.
“I… I’d like that.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Cool. Um… which part?”
“Mhmm!”
Tag Lists
Forever: @laochbaineann @lavitabella87 @thiickreigns @zuni21798
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Sami Zayne: @kazuchika @wrestlingnoob @lunaticbun @theworldiscolorful @justrae9903 @xfirespritex @kathleenjimenez @secretagentfangirl





